10.1002/chem.200390115
The research focuses on synthesizing and characterizing luminescent rod ± coil block copolymers using atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The primary aim is to develop conjugated polymers that can emit blue light efficiently and maintain their luminescent properties when transitioning from solution to the solid state, which is crucial for applications in photoluminescent and electroluminescent devices. The researchers synthesized two novel, rigid, photoluminescent terfluorene derivatives using direct bromination and Suzuki coupling reactions. These derivatives were then used as initiators for the ATRP of styrene and tert-butyl acrylate to create diblock and triblock copolymers with well-defined structures. The copolymers exhibited blue light emission with minimal aggregation or excimer formation in the solid state, even after thermal treatment. The study concludes that these copolymers show promise for luminescence applications due to their controlled structure, thermal stability, and consistent luminescent properties.